It took two overtimes for the Morrilton Devil Dogs to put away the Little Rock Christian Warriors at Christian on Friday.
Morrilton had to rally late in regulation and in both overtimes, and Chave Zackery hit six consecutive free throws to help Morrilton pull away in the final minute for a 75-71 victory.
Zackery hit 21 free throws and led all scorers with 26 points as Morrilton took over first place in the 5A-West Conference.
“We knew it was going to be a dogfight going in,” said Morrilton Coach Keith Zackery, Chave Zackery’s father. “I just told our guys to stay in the moment, show great grit and integrity, and that’s why we want the ball in [Chave Zackery’s] hands. We feel like he’s going to bring us home every time.”
Little Rock Christian (11-7, 4-2) was led by senior forward Isaiah Harper with 24 points.
Morrilton (12-9, 6-1) took its first lead of the game in the fourth quarter and never led by more than two in regulation.
The Devil Dogs appeared to have scored at the buzzer to win in regulation. Kiondre Jefferson tipped in a miss at the buzzer, and the scoreboard registered Morrilton 59, Little Rock Christian 57.
But game officials held a discussion and told both coaches they called goaltending on Little Rock Christian concerning the miss Jefferson tipped in. Both coaches said they were told by the officials the shot could not have gone in, thus voiding the goaltending call.
The confused coaches said they assumed there was a declaration of an inadvertent whistle, but they remained uncertain several minutes after the game ended.
Quan Richardson hit two free throws late in the first overtime to tie the score at 65-65 with two seconds left.
A layup by freshman guard Justice Hill gave Little Rock Christian a 71-68 lead with 1:19 left in the second overtime, but those would be the Warriors’ final points.
“You have to give Morrilton all the credit,” Little Rock Christian Coach Austin Trembley said. “And you have to give a lot of credit to the coach’s son. He’s tough to beat.”
MORRILTON 75, LR CHRISTIAN 71, 2OT